INTRODUCTION

1. The love of the Lord Jesus was clearly seen in the way He related to His disciples

2. His work of training them for three challenging years was marked by many things:

a) Grace

b) Mercy

c) Compassion

d) Understanding

These things underscore the reality of the deep love He had for them

 

AN AWESOME STATEMENT OF LOVE

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father,

having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. John 13:1

1. The hour of the Death of the Lord Jesus drew near

2. His love for the Disciples

a) He loved “His own who were in the world”

b) “He loved them to the end”

3. His love

a) Committed

b) Consistent

c) Concrete

d) Continued to the very end of life

 

CLEAR EXPRESSIONS OF THE LORD’S LOVE

1. He Called the Disciples individually to follow Him

a) One was a Tax collector

b) Another was a zealot

2. He Chose them and made them Apostles

a) They were people of humble beginnings

b) Many were but Galilean fishermen

c) They were not well-educated

3. He Communicated to them many deep, life-changing Truths

a) The Beatitudes

b) His Seven “I am” epigrammatic statements

4. He Corrected them

a) When they had wrong understanding

b) When they were fearful

c) When they displayed a wrong spirit

5. He showed Compassion

a) To the Multitudes

b) He sought to teach them how to find compassion

6. He Came to their rescue when they were faulted by their enemies

a) The Pharisees sought to find fault with them

b) They disputed with the Disciples

7. He Continued to teach them patiently

a) When they could not understand

b) When they could not appreciate

c) When they doubted

 

A COMMAND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.

32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:31-35

1. The Lord Jesus was not afraid to go to His death

2. But what would the Disciples be like without their Leader?

3. He gave them “A New Commandment”

a) As He had loved them

b) So they must love one another

c) They would then prove that they were true disciples of the Lord

d) Love was to be the Hallmark of being Disciples of the Lord Jesus

 

CONCLUSION

1. The Lord Jesus was the Master-Teacher

a) He could teach ordinary people to become outstanding Apostles

b) He could make complex truths understandable

2. The Lord Jesus came to be our Saviour

a) He had to suffer much

b) He was prepared to give His life to save a sinful world

3. Can we speak of:

a) A genuine love for the Lord Jesus?

b) A growing love for our Saviour?

c) A Great love for Him?

d) A good love for one another as members of the family of God?